Liverpool boss Arne Slot wrote with sincere appreciation to city foes Everton for the respect and unity extended during the sad loss of striker Diogo Jota earlier this year. The Portuguese international’s premature death in a car accident in Spain at 28 left the football community in shock, weeks after Liverpool beat their closest challengers to the Premier League title.
Tribute to Jota Before the Derby
Speaking before the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday, Slot complimented Everton for setting rivalry aside to stand with their neighbors in a time of need.
“They are a very good team and there is rivalry, but what I also appreciated and want to stress is what they did when Diogo died,” Slot said to the press.
“They expressed their respect and in such moments of time, it is really good to see that in tragedies, the rivalry exists but the respect to both exists.
Jota’s last goal for Liverpool came in April during a 1-0 victory over Everton, a game now, however, that is more meaningful to supporters and players. The match on Saturday will, it is expected, have tributes to the late striker as each set of supporters remembers his work for the club and for the league.
Liverpool’s Impeccable Start Despite Team Revamp
In spite of the emotional shock of losing an important player, Liverpool have started the 2025–26 campaign well, having won all five of their Premier League and Champions League matches to date. Slot admitted the team is yet to find harmony after a record summer transfer window when the club spent almost £450 million the biggest in English football history.
“The level of change has manifested in some disjointed performances, but we are winning games,” added Slot. “I like the position of winning games and saying that we can still improve things, rather than losing games.”
New Signings Prepared for the Derby Test
Slot is still upbeat that Liverpool’s new signings are prepared to accept the ferocity of the Merseyside derby.
“For the new ones, it is not the first time they play in situations where there are a lot of rivalries and intensity in the match,” he said. “The priority should be the rivalry but also what we have to do to win the match be intense, win the one-on-one duels, play well on the ball, and be disciplined without it.”
Liverpool record signing Alexander Isak, who cost £125 million, made his debut in Wednesday night’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid. Slot reported that Isak “felt his body more than ever” after sitting out the majority of pre-season as a result of his transfer saga. French striker Hugo Ekitike should come back into the starting line-up on Saturday as Liverpool seek to make it a sixth consecutive clean sheet to begin the season.
